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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 2004)
CONSIDERING COSMETIC SURGERY? Michael J. Streitmann, MI), PA Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Member American Society Of Plastic Surgeons COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATIONS 713-667-4600 H AVE YOUR GROUP'S picture taken for Texas A&M's 2005 Aggieland yearbook. Contracts are due beginning Friday. Follow these easy steps: (1) Download a contract from http:// aggieland.tamu.edu or pick one up in room 004 Reed McDonald. (2) Fill out your contract and return it with payment to room 015 Reed McDonald. Space is limited. Questions? Call 845- 2682 for details. Aqqieland2005 ^ ^ Texas A&M University SENIORS. We need your graduation portrait for the 2005 Aggieland yearbook. Graduation portraits for Texas A&M University's 2005 Aggieland yearbook will be taken Monday through Friday, Sept. 13-24, 2004, in MSC Room 027. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. There is no sitting fee required to be photographed for the yearbook. To make your appointment, go to www.throntonstudio. com. Go to Scheduling, then click New User, and complete with Registration Password: tarn Or schedule by calling Thornton Studio at 1-800-883-9449, or see the photographer beginning Sept. 13. 10 NE\; Friday, September 10, 2004 Blood Drive in Action the BATTAllf Texans rally for 1 tax deduction BSD By Suzanne Gamboa THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WHITNEY MARTIN • THE BATTALION Carolyn Johnson of Dallas administrates the blood donating procedure at the Alpha Phi Omega-Red Cross blood drive near Sbisa Dining Hall. Today is the last day of the blood drive. WASHINGTON — The loom ing end of the session and fights over other tax cut proposals could abruptly end what several members of Congress said Thursday is the best chance in decades for getting a federal deduction for people whose states only charge sales taxes. About two dozen lawmakers from both parties gathered in a Senate conference room to rally around the sales tax deduction proposal, which affects a handful of states, including Texas. “We are not going home with out sales tax deductibility,” said Rep. Kevin Brady, a member of the House Ways and Means Com mittee, who has led the push for the deduction. In addition to Texas, the pro posal would benefit Florida, Ten nessee, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada and Washington. , kans, who pay local taxes, would benefit. Brady acknowledged thepo bility of ending the session emi handed because Congress isscl uled to adjourn in early Octofe Also, the sales tax deduci is part of similar, broaderf passed by the House and Sei that provide corporate tax i and eliminate a tax cut fori exporters. A conference ci mittee has yet to meet to nea ate the differences in the bi because House Speaker Den Hastcrt has not named comi tee members. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutcln said the hang-up is not thew ly supported sales tax issue.S said negotiations on the rate tax bill have widened to elude discussions on a sepan sweeping energy bill that k in Jni ides tax elated pr< incentivi mrams. Women Continued from page 1 semester wearing regular clothes with nametags, and commuting to the Quad ev ery day for afternoon formation and din ner at Duncan Hall. At the end of the fall semester, the number of female cadets had dropped to 25. Pranglin said that although the first year was difficult, 10 W-l male upperclassmen helped the female cadets get through it, es pecially W-l commanding officer S. Don Roper, Class of 1975. “Because this was the first year women were allowed in the Corps, we had to have some male upperclassmen to lead us and instruct us,” Pranglin said. “They all volun teered to help us and they were an extreme ly important part of our success that year. For all of those hardships and all of those struggles, we always had ‘Don, Mr. Roper, Sir.’ He was everything that was positive about the Cadets.” Roper said the Corps was unprepared to accept women in Fall 1974 and that he volunteered to be commanding officer because he thought women should have equal opportunities. “I was very proud to be a part of company W-l,” Roper said. “There was a quality of women in W-l with the loyalty and desire to be in the Corps, but it was a challenging year for each of those who participated.” Pranglin said one of the worst things was when male cadets did not allow fe male cadets to introduce themselves to them, or “whip out.” “At some point, we all wanted to quit,” Pranglin said. “But each woman has her reason why she wanted to stay in. For me, as soon as I got into the spirit, I felt an ob ligation to my fish buddies, my upperclass men who volunteered, my parents and to future women in the Corps.” Roper said one of the main reasons wom en survived in the Corps is because of the unity in W-l. “The good part was the very early co hesiveness as a unit,” Roper said. “There was a very strong relationship between the women.” Pranglin said she enjoyed forming bonds with the other female Cadets and spending time giggling about guys and talking about who had a date on Friday. She added that her favorite parts of the Corps experience were Friday afternoons, after fonnation. “We were so hot and tired, but we would know the weekend was there, and we would go in and clean up and then go out country- and-westem dancing,” Pranglin said. Pranglin said that during the four years she was a cadet things progressed for wom en. During Pranglin’s sophomore year, the women were given dorms on the Quad, and by her junior year, W-l was an all-female unit and women were fully integrated in the Corps. But Pranglin said by her senior year she was a little disappointed that things still weren’t perfect and some of the same dis crimination was still happening. “We did not get our boots,” Pranglin said. “That torch was carried by another class. Each group paved the way a little further down the road.” Maj. Kimberly Currens, Class of 1980 and a member of Squadron 14 and Parsons Mounted Cavalry, joined the Corps because she wanted a future job in the military. She said harassment continued when she was there, but that she and other cadets decided to stay and make a point. “Why did I join? Because I had to,” Currens said. “Why did I stay after I found out about (harassment)? Sheer stubborn ness. I grew up a lot in my first couple of years here at A&M, and it definitely made me a strong person.” Currens, who is now a member of the U.S. Air Force and a military adviser for Squad ron 12, was the first female cadet to return to A&M as an ROTC instructor. She returned to help mentor other female cadets. “I have an open-door policy, and (female cadets) can stop in any time they want and discuss life,” Currens said. Dawn Marie Baletka, Class of 1984 and a member of Squadron 14, said that despite the harassment in the Corps, she enjoyed being a cadet tremendously. She said that as a female cadet, she participated in the building of Bonfire, something other female A&M students were prohibited from doing. Baletka said being an ‘oddity’ on campus was a good challenge. “We (Squadron 14) had a motto that trans lated to, ‘I will either find a way or make w one,’” Baletka sai women in the Cot Baletka said th )man she is tod; “The women \ >od with m , made me businesswom activist that I what we i In a state ire Marsha aused the ie Univers in July 3E The stater rior servict “We cam f the fire a etermined ature,” sai he Texas D The gas I |ie buildin] irto the pip 1 -1 J, accoi Hagins de [plosion xx ide h a ho d th< u before me. xvho stood i 1 am tc n today, the Baletka said. men that n that m todi Baletka said she is proud to be two female cadets who are the first toi daughters in the Corps. Baletk Brynn Hayes, is a freshman in A-Batt. “She has wanted to be in the \ggiel since she was out of the cradle.” Baletka a “I told her that no amount of money it uld buy her something to rq priceless.” /es. a special education major, said beinn in the Corps so far and that! % \ wc thi It’ lovi though she has experienced some c&aiiq of try ing to keep up with the male cadi things are a lot better now than they when her mother was a cadet. “If it ever gets hard. I think. ‘Um times harder when my mom was| Hayes said. “Anytime I’m down, I ‘My mom did it.’ Knowing that they; the way and seeing my upperclassmens in their boots makes it all worth it." Pranglin. Roper, Currens, Baletka; Hayes will be at the 30th anniversary! ebration this weekend. The anniversary, years in the making, includes social erings and speeches from Col. Pauletta| Blueitt, Class of 1981 of the U.S. AirFc and Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne, commaa| of the Corps of Cadets. This xveekend* also include the opening of the official \ en’s exhibit in the Sanderson Corps Cei which w'ill include memorabilia from fen cadets and a brick dedication on Sunday! Currens, who is on the anniversary plan committee, is excited about the interaction! will be available for old and new female! at the anniversary, especially between thei] women who have become colonels. “This is something female cadets! look (at) and be like, ‘This is doafl Currens said. Baletka is just excited to see her daud march on Kyle Field for the first time. “She’s making her own stories and! own memories now,” Baletka said. I \\ C- ■ IfifllELAND'S LARCT 1 y 1% 1 [Tf^ J i j y f j 1 Ji ( ™ M ADULT 0 VOUTH T-SHIRTS U Up 40’ by ZOO’ of never lief ore seen quality A&M merchandise! A&M SPECIALTY ITEMS ifC Below wholesale pricing! aCm flip FLOPS 6IRLV TANKS fi The ‘Tribute Fifth Avenue i The tribute mi i||acks on the 12,973 people. to t&M By Matt THE B SWEAT SHIRTS £ POLOS V ■ September 9th - Corner of Southwest Pkwy. an Thursday, September 9th - Saturday Sunday, i tember ttt am - bpm iyTexas A&I or a third s lereases in il assistance Bw data rele Indent Healt ■“The Uni Etively invc |duce risk c psistant Din Whether tl Bributed to Rins uncleai Sor the wholi^r si Wvare of the family! Mephone nui J|ealth Servii dons this yeai He a&m gists On the Lack's, 4.0 & GO and Bourbon Street parking lot} For mat e detaits call Hpdergraduat' H||nalional st this month tht Bident Affa e-fnailed a im reinforcing th We’ve be tional about 01